Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-he...
Living just down the road from the massive hangars this thing is sitting in at the moment. I thought I would share it on here just in case anyone is interested on maybe seeing the first flight from Cardington.
It should be flying in the next couple of weeks so I'll try and keep it updated on here.
You can read more on the project here too.
http://www.hybridairvehicles.com/
Living just down the road from the massive hangars this thing is sitting in at the moment. I thought I would share it on here just in case anyone is interested on maybe seeing the first flight from Cardington.
It should be flying in the next couple of weeks so I'll try and keep it updated on here.
You can read more on the project here too.
http://www.hybridairvehicles.com/
I used to live opposite RAF Cardington at Shortstown .I was there at the time of the Goodyear airships .
I hope that it doesn't suffer the same fate and wrap itself around the pub in Cotten End .
Those hangers are fookin huge .
They used to hold the RC aircraft flying championships inside one .
I hope that it doesn't suffer the same fate and wrap itself around the pub in Cotten End .
Those hangers are fookin huge .
They used to hold the RC aircraft flying championships inside one .
I did my work experience with Airship Industries back in the 90's and it was an eye opening sight inside those sheds. Can't believe they were building airships in there 90 odd years ago but in a completely different way.
Looking forward to seeing an airship floating around the area again.
Looking forward to seeing an airship floating around the area again.
It's cool and all, but what are the commercial applications?
Don;t get me wrong, I wish things didn't have to make money, and more projects were about doing things because it's cool, and furthers our understanding various elements of science. But that's not really how the world works anymore.
So, will this be for similar "pleasure flights" like a hot air balloon? Surely it will be too slow to be commercially viable for anything else?
Don;t get me wrong, I wish things didn't have to make money, and more projects were about doing things because it's cool, and furthers our understanding various elements of science. But that's not really how the world works anymore.
So, will this be for similar "pleasure flights" like a hot air balloon? Surely it will be too slow to be commercially viable for anything else?
louiebaby said:
It's cool and all, but what are the commercial applications?
Don;t get me wrong, I wish things didn't have to make money, and more projects were about doing things because it's cool, and furthers our understanding various elements of science. But that's not really how the world works anymore.
So, will this be for similar "pleasure flights" like a hot air balloon? Surely it will be too slow to be commercially viable for anything else?
There are two main applications. One is cargo, it's a least as quick as road or water transport, potentially much cheaper than air transport, and can get into places otherwise inaccessible. There is a version under development with a 50 ton capacity.Don;t get me wrong, I wish things didn't have to make money, and more projects were about doing things because it's cool, and furthers our understanding various elements of science. But that's not really how the world works anymore.
So, will this be for similar "pleasure flights" like a hot air balloon? Surely it will be too slow to be commercially viable for anything else?
The other is surveying and reconnaissance, with the potential to stay airborne for days at a time.
They won't ever be as common as 747s, but there is a potential market.
louiebaby said:
It's cool and all, but what are the commercial applications?
Don;t get me wrong, I wish things didn't have to make money, and more projects were about doing things because it's cool, and furthers our understanding various elements of science. But that's not really how the world works anymore.
So, will this be for similar "pleasure flights" like a hot air balloon? Surely it will be too slow to be commercially viable for anything else?
Airlander 10 has a 10 ton payload it can deliver anywhere (with enough space, but terrain is not an issue). This could be used for Leisure activities, but also offshore industries (including oil and wind). It could also 've used to move humanitarian supplies in particularly difficult areas that may be too high for helicopters and too isolated for ground vehicles. Don;t get me wrong, I wish things didn't have to make money, and more projects were about doing things because it's cool, and furthers our understanding various elements of science. But that's not really how the world works anymore.
So, will this be for similar "pleasure flights" like a hot air balloon? Surely it will be too slow to be commercially viable for anything else?
The Airlander 50 will have a 50 ton payload that could be used for far more commercial applications, including as a replacement for oversize loads like what Airbus transport using the Beluga aircraft.
I'm confident that if it's managed properly it could be at minimum a great niche vehicle like the An-225, but I'd love to see a fleet!
First flight was at Lakehurst apparently - history takes off from where it left!
https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/downloads/Airlan...
Not sure how much payload it would get to 20K feet though.
NB Looked at 'technical' from https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/technical/how-it... - very superficial, little content on that site.
https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/downloads/Airlan...
Not sure how much payload it would get to 20K feet though.
NB Looked at 'technical' from https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/technical/how-it... - very superficial, little content on that site.
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 7th August 10:35
Eric Mc said:
I sometimes think that airship enthusiasts scrabble around looking for practical reasons as to why they should be built.
Can't disagree too much. There's no real use for these in the developed world that isn't better served by existing infrastructure. I can see the potential for this in the second and third world countries though...
Ok, potentially stupid question of the week: Looking at the ratio of thrusting surfaces to dragging surfaces, surely that'll get grounded by a gentle breeze?
(ie, it's like a conventional plane with a really, really, really low wing loading, in that it'll get knocked all over the sky by wind gusts etc?)
(ie, it's like a conventional plane with a really, really, really low wing loading, in that it'll get knocked all over the sky by wind gusts etc?)
I think that will always be the Achilles Heel of lighter than air aircarft like these. They are very easily damged by high winds, gists, wind shear etc.
The vast bulk of airships that were lost in accidents were brought down by bad weather. Obviously, with modern materials they are tougher and with helium gas they are far less likely to burst into flames.
But they are light and will get buffeted about.
My vision for airships is for operating slow moving aerial safaris over the great game reserves - or flying tourists over the great wastelands of the world - sort of aerial cruise ships. The great and successful Graf Zeppelin airship of the late 1920s undertook such flights and never hurt a passenger.
I also think they may have use in the exploration of the atmospheres of other planets. I could see an airship exploration of Mars working, for example
One of my prized possession is a small rectangle of genuine World War 1 airship fabric. It belonged to a Royal Naval Air Service airship that was based north of Dublin and got blown into trees and broke up.
The vast bulk of airships that were lost in accidents were brought down by bad weather. Obviously, with modern materials they are tougher and with helium gas they are far less likely to burst into flames.
But they are light and will get buffeted about.
My vision for airships is for operating slow moving aerial safaris over the great game reserves - or flying tourists over the great wastelands of the world - sort of aerial cruise ships. The great and successful Graf Zeppelin airship of the late 1920s undertook such flights and never hurt a passenger.
I also think they may have use in the exploration of the atmospheres of other planets. I could see an airship exploration of Mars working, for example
One of my prized possession is a small rectangle of genuine World War 1 airship fabric. It belonged to a Royal Naval Air Service airship that was based north of Dublin and got blown into trees and broke up.
Eric Mc said:
My vision for airships is for operating slow moving aerial safaris over the great game reserves - or flying tourists over the great wastelands of the world - sort of aerial cruise ships. The great and successful Graf Zeppelin airship of the late 1920s undertook such flights and never hurt a passenger.
I would love to go on an airborne cruise like this. Imagine cruising over cool places at low level. How fantastic. Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff